Ways to save fuel and reduce or cut fuel costs all together

Over the weekend, fuel prices in Britain reached a record 185p a litre. The average price of petrol hit 185.04p for the first time on Sunday, while diesel reached a record 191.03p on Saturday. With the price of a full tank for a 55 litre SUV costing £100, it’s no surprise that many are battling these rising costs and looking for ways to make this money back, cut down on fuel costs or even remove fuel costs altogether.

We’ve listed out a few changes you can make to reduce your fuel consumption and drive efficiently. If you’re looking to make back the money spent on fuel, car sharing is a great way to balance out the costs, as renting your car out to others creates additional income that can be kept aside for refill day! For longer term solutions, selling your car or switching to an electric vehicle is much more sustainable as this will remove the need for fuel all together.

How you can cut back on fuel costs

Increase your active travel

Need the car for a short journey? It’s worth considering alternate modes of transport to see if you can get to your destination another way! It’s no surprise that active travel (cycling, walking, skating etc) is the most environmentally friendly way of travelling, so why not give it a go and see if you can cut out your shorter car journeys? Not only is this friendlier for the planet, but it’s friendlier for your finances too.

Take public transport

Most cities have brilliant public transport links, meaning you can leave your car at home and jump on a bus, underground, overground, metro, tram or train! Relying on public transport can require more planning ahead if you live in a rural area, but it’s still possible - you just might need to mix in a bit of active travel to get to the public transport.

Drive smart

Did you know your driving style can impact how much fuel is being consumed? Smooth driving and no revving keeps fuel consumption to a minimum. It’s also worth checking your tyre pressure before you head off on a long journey, as under inflated tyres use up more petrol. Keeping weight to a minimum in the car and refraining from using the air conditioning will also reduce consumption.

How to balance out the costs of fuel

Share your car and earn up to £650+ a month

We understand that for many it’s not a feasible option to switch out every journey for active travel or public transport. However, if you find yourself with a car parked outside your house and it’s not being utilised much, then you can easily rent it out to others using Karshare and earn up to £650+ a month. This additional income can balance out the increased costs of fuel and even leave you with extra to spend as you wish.

“We have made a lot of money through the rentals on a car that would otherwise just be sitting outside our house.” - Rachel, Trustpilot

How to remove fuel costs completely

Sell your car and rent a car when you need one

If you don’t rely on your car daily, you can always sell it on and rent a car when you need one. This means no more road tax, no insurance, no services or MOTs to worry about! Instantly book and unlock a nearby car with Karshare when you’re ready to drive. You can even rent a hybrid or electric vehicle to keep fuel costs down even more.

“I sold my car when I moved and only need one for trips from time to time. It’s a great way to be mobile and save money, I highly recommend it” - Emily, Trustpilot

Switch to an electric vehicle

The cost of a full tank of petrol is at £100, whereas an electric vehicle owner can recharge their car to full for just £37! So although there is a bigger initial investment, in the long run you’ll be saving overall (approx £63 every time you recharge to full). If you’re unable to buy an electric vehicle outright, Karshare offers a Lease and Share scheme where you can finance an EV and share it - a double environmental win!

Find out more about Lease and Share here.

‍